Should Baby Formula Be Hidden In Hospitals To Force Moms To Breastfeed? Mayor Bloomberg Says Yes

Mayor Bloomberg wants to keep baby forumla under lock and key in New York hospitals to pressure new moms to breastfeed! Read on for all the details.

Michael Bloomberg is demanding that New York City hospitals stop handing out free baby formula in an effort to promote breastfeeding among new moms. Although formula will still be available, mothers who request it will need an acceptable medical excuse for choosing the bottle over the breast.

The New York City Health Department will monitor the number of bottles of formula given out at hospitals. The restriction is part of the Latch On NYC initiative, which was launched to promote the health benefits of breastfeeding over formula, according to the Daily Mail.

Starting on September 3, 27 out of 40 hospitals in New York will enforce the terms of the initiative. Mothers who choose to use formula will not only need to provide a legitimate medical excuse, they will also receive a lecture from staff on the benefits of breast-feeding.

Hospitals will also have to document the medical reason behind each bottle of formula given out.

“Human breast milk is best for babies and mothers,” health commissioner Thomas Farley said when the campaign launched. “With this initiative, the New York City health community is joining together to support mothers who choose to breastfeed.”